Political Contributions

Political Contributions

Gilead participates in the political process by contributing prudently to state and local candidates and political organizations when such contributions are permitted by state and local law. Generally, contributions are made to officeholders and candidates based on several criteria, including: policy positions that reflect the interests of Gilead, its employees or the communities it serves; representation of geographic area where Gilead’s employees and facilities are located; ability to be elected; and the need for financial assistance. Gilead’s priorities for making political expenditures with corporate funds include furthering public health policy and scientific and health innovation.

Requests for corporate political contributions are made by or to Gilead’s Government Affairs group, led by Gregg H. Alton, our Chief Patient Officer. Mr. Alton and other members of the senior management team approve the corporate political contributions. Please note that political contributions are made without regard to private political preferences of the company officers and executives.

In the interest of transparency for our stockholders and other stakeholders, we are making available lists of our political contributions, trade associations, and contributions to 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations. These lists will be updated and posted to this website semi-annually. The information will also be provided to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board.

Direct corporate contributions to federal candidates and national political party committees are prohibited by law. As a result, we do not make such contributions with corporate funds. Contributions to federal candidates and committees are made by the Gilead Sciences Inc. Healthcare Policy PAC, a federally-registered political committee that accepts contributions from Gilead employees on a volunteer basis.

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the use of corporate funds to make independent expenditures on behalf of candidates is permissible. We have not made and do not plan to make any independent expenditures on behalf of federal, state, or local candidates in the future. If our position on making independent expenditures changes, that declaration would be made on this website and such activities (including recipient names and amounts given) would be disclosed here.

In certain states, corporations are permitted to contribute on the state and local level. We have made contributions on the state and local level where permissible. Click on the link below to view reports of Gilead's corporate contributions to state and local political candidates, political parties, political committees, ballot initiatives, and other political organizations established under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Click on the link below to view a list of trade organizations to which Gilead pays more than $25,000 in membership dues or other payments, and to the extent available to us, the portion of those payments that were used for activities that are not deductible under Chapter 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Examples of trade associations of which Gilead is a member include; Biotechnology Industry Organization and California Life Sciences Association.

Gilead's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews the company's political expenditure policies and confirms that all political expenditures are consistent with the company's policies on a quarterly basis. The Nominating and Governance Committee also reviews all payments to trade associations. In addition, outside counsel will provide a periodic review of Gilead's political activity.